Spring Special Edition 2014

Toronto Operetta Theatre
Special Edition E-News May 1, 2014
THE COUSIN AND ME
A personal reminiscence on DER VETTER AUS DINGSDA
by Henry Ingram
Roderich and I go way back. Roderich is of course, the ‘echt’
COUSIN FROM NOWHERE, and that was one of my roles at
Stadt Theater Trier when I sang there as the Spiel Tenor for the
municipal opera house. Singing in Trier was one of the most
important events in my professional life and I have many, many
happy memories of my time living in die Älteste Stadt
Deutschlands on the banks of the Mosel. And the
food…Römerbraten, Weiβwurst, Schweineschnitzel, Salzbrot,
Leichtes Himbeer Eiskuchen, Hausgemachtes Sauerkraut
Frikadellen und Schmalz! Not to mention the best Mosel Wein I
ever drank, all from wineries on the banks of the Mosel as it
snakes its way north from Trier through Bernkastel and Cochem to
Koblenz.
But back to DER VETTER AUS DINGSDA as Künneke’s operetta
is called in German. I was cast as the Zweiter Fremder, or the
real Roderich de Weert, who runs away to Batavia (now Jakarta)
leaving Julia, my childhood sweetheart , behind. It was a great
role even though I only made my first appearance three quarters
of the way through the show. I still remember my entrance driving
a full sized sedan. And this terrified me for several reasons: 1)
what if it didn’t start; 2) what if the brakes failed and 3) what if I
drove it into the orchestra pit. None of those things happened but
more than once the ignition didn’t quite get the car going so the
stage hands had to shove me and my vintage sedan onstage
COUNTESS MARITZA by Kalman
Henry Ingram as Baron Zsupan, Debirah Stevens as Countess Lisa
Canadian Premier of
COUSIN FROM NOWHERE by Eduard Künneke
May 1, 2, 3, 2014 8pm
May 4, 2014 2pm
St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts
416-366-7723 | www.stlc.com
DER BETTELSTUDENT by Millöcker
Henry Ingram as Jan, Barbara Sadegur as Bronislava
The big tune sung by the tall handsome leading man is
“Ich bin nur ein armer Wandergesell” and my character
– Roderich # 2 - didn’t get to sing it in the show. But
never mind…I learned it and subsequently sang it at
numerous opera and operetta gatherings in and
around Trier. DER VETTER AUS DINGSDA is done
constantly in Europe and I could never understand why
it has not been done here. The story is very romantic,
with handsome vagabonds, secret identities, great
tunes and comic characters right and left. So, I was
doubly excited this season, when TOT got a special
grant from the Canada Council to present the
Canadian Premiere of this delightful work. At long last
I will get a chance to see this charming musical on a
Canadian stage; I’m sure our audience will be as
charmed as I was.
But you have to pay attention…there are TWO
Roderichs in this show and it’s easy to get them mixed
up. Well maybe not…there’s always a tall one and a
short one. In Trier, I was the short one!
20% OFF!
Use this coupon code to receive 20% off.
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Box Office: 416-366-7723 | www.stlc.com